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Vote for a CU Hero

The CU movement is blessed with extraordinary leaders.

Every year at this time, we’re honored to present four exceptional leaders who you’ve nominated over the past year as Credit Union Heroes. These individuals exemplify the credit union philosophy of “people helping people,” and they’ve gone the extra mile to extend credit union service in their communities.

Now it’s time to choose one as the 2013 Credit Union Hero of the Year. Voting is open now through May 17.

Warren Morrow (posthumous) founded Coopera—a full-service Hispanic market solutions company with the belief that Hispanics need credit unions as much as credit unions need Hispanics.

He believed deeply in helping underserved Hispanics receive dignified financial services. By bringing financial stability to a home, Warren believed, you could begin to address other social issues.

Lily Newfarmer, CEO of Tarrant County Credit Union in Fort Worth, Texas, has overseen tremendous growth at her credit union since becoming CEO in 2001. At that time, the credit union had $25 million in assets and 5,046 members. Today, it has $67 million in assets and nearly 10,000 members.

Newfarmer led an initiative to create payday loan alternatives for the 12% of Tarrant County members who were using payday lenders. The credit union developed innovative products designed to move members’ business back to the credit union, including direct deposit incentives, alternative payday loans, financial counseling, and free financial education.

Anabela Pereira, CEO of Pioneer Valley Federal Credit Union, Springfield, Mass., joined the credit union as a teller when she was 19 years old. That’s when the institution operated out of space provided by its original sponsor—the U.S. Postal Service.

That was 28 years ago, and the credit union now has 20 employees, 6,200 members, and $40 million in assets. Since she was named CEO in 1998, she has been the credit union’s main visionary. She was only 32 years old when she took the helm of the nation’s second-oldest postal credit union.

Scott Prior, president/CEO of Connection Credit Union in Silverdale, Wash., has been an integral part of an initiative to start a “Bank On” program. This nationwide program negotiates with local financial institutions to increase access to financial services for the unbanked and under banked. Connection’s “Bank On Kitsap” program helps the county’s residents achieve financial stability and obtain financial education.